The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-04-01

haved horribly, and filled my heau WltE the
most gruesome fancies. | can not imagine
where he could have heard all the dreadful
stories he told me. He decided that Mrs.
Mort must have killed her husband, and that
the dead body was stuffed up the parlor chin
ney. At last, seeing how frightened l was,
he tried to calm me by Laughing at himself.
mo, Mary said he; "I've got 1t now.
The old lady keeps her husband chained UP in
the back kitchen, on bread and water, and
only lets him out when he has finished a book.
She finds that is the only way to make him
work"
l could not help smiling at this idea, but
nevertheless was mighty curious to hear what
iii husband would nave 10 tell lie returned
about noon, and we met him at the gate.
saw at once by his face that my silly fears
had been unfounded. He laughed heartily,
as he glanced at my pale checks and scared
expression.
"Don't be frightened, little woman" he
said, taking my arm. "It's nothing so very
dreadful, after all We had great work to get
into the house, and it was only when the
squire threatened to have the door broken
down that Mrs. Mort let us In. l never saw a
woman look so furious. Mr.. Dale was very po-
lite, but said that, as there were all kinds of
umOrs afoat, he had felt it his duty to ask to
see Mr.. Mort In person.
You can't; he's busy answered Mrs.
Mort.
" 4 am sorry to say said the squire, that /
must insist on disturbing him. There is a sus-
picion, ridiculous enough no doubt. of foul
play on your part, Mrs. Mort. kindly assist
me in clearing THE matter up for once and
ALL
~ can't; he's asleep. Cali again. she
snarled.
"'You are prevaricating,' answered the
squire. 4 must search the premises. Consta-
bic, attend to this lady while we go upstairs,
'Mrs. Mort threw herself on the ground be-
fore him, and clasp!ng his knees, besought
him not to do so-not to wake her James, but
to call again.
"This, of course only confirmed the magis.
trate's suspicious, and, handing the lady over
to the constable, who locked himself up with
her in the famous d~rawing-room, he went up
stairs, accompanied by me.
The first room we came into was furnished
with a bed, a table, and a chair. The table
was fitted with writing materials, and covered
with pages of manuscript. A pile of books
was heaped up in one corner. All the other
rooms were quite empty, and, though we in
stituted a thorough search in all directions,
we were unable to discover any trace of Mr..
Mort, or Of his mortal remains.
At last we descended TO the d~rawing-rocm.
We found Mrs. Mort at the piano. She was
playing the Dead March in Saul" The con-
stable tapped his head significantly as he let
us in.
- II oob =, f0r tho IoeE TINA Me- Mott ,
said the squire very gravel, to tell me where
your husband is, or what has become of him.
We have searched the house all over, and can
find no trace Of him.
az tell you he's writing his Letters from
Heaven, ~ said the lady, without ~iuterrupting
her performance on the piano. He's out; you
can't see him.
Constable, arrest that woman cried Mr..
Dale. You must excuse me, madam, but ]
must do my duty. You viii be kept in custo.
dy or suspicion of murder until we have found
your husband, or until you have accounted for
his absence in a satisfactory name Wilson,
wait here until I send my ~brougham round.
You will come on in 1t to the grange. l am
anxious to avoid scandal
'Oh,' cried Mrs. Mort, If IFS as serious as
all that ! had better explain Morris death
"Ah!" said the squire. And when and
howq'
I" Naturally enough, answered Mrs. Mort
He died of serious apoplexy in Paris six
months go. If you will look In the drawer
Of my ~writing-table upstairs you win find the
acte de deces from the Paris register Office, as
well as the French DOCTORS certificate
'SIhe squire ran upstairs, and presently re.
turned With the documents in his hand.
81 am glad to see that we have been mis-
taken he said, and / am very sorry that this
should have occurred. But perhaps, madam,
you will explain
81 shall explain nothing at all, snarled the
lady. You have no right to ask me. / don't
blame you, but that young imp of Satan who
came here last night THAT'S you Charley
And ii you have done bothering perhaps
you'll all get ont of the house.
ssWe retired considerably crestfallen, but
greatly relieved at the unexpected denoue.
ment OF what we had thought would turn on
a tragic affair. But Dale Ii firmly resolved to
have the woman out Of the house in a weeks
time. How he win manage it don't know
But / cried, sIt seems to me as mysterL
GUS as ever. Why should she conceal her hus
bands death, and make people believe he was
still living with herl What motive can she
have hadl''
u farcy." answered my husband, though,
mind, It's a mere supposition, that Mrs. Mort
was anxious not to lose the benefit Of her bus
bands popularity as a writer. The name Of
james Mort was worth to her a clear co. 900 a
year. AS he lived abroad most Of his life,
and consequently, was not known in English
society, it was an easy matter to cCncem bis
death. Mrs. Mort had always acted as his